Loose-leaf book



Oct. 1 11, 1927. 1,644,772

c. 1.. ENGEL ET AL LOOSE LEAF BOOK I Filed March 19, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 WITNESSES, v INVENTO'RJS ATTORNEY c. L. ENGEL ET AL LOOSE LEAF BOOK Filed March 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

M L I/NVENTORS.

Zl/a/m M f A TTORNb: y

Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

entree stares ears-st ser es.

CHARLES L. ENGEL AND WALTER E5. ENGEL, OF KANSAS OITY, MISSO'URI.

rioo'snennar Boon.

Application filed Maroh 19, 1326. Serial No. 95,912.

Our invention relates to improvements in loose leaf books.

It is particularly adapted for use in connection with books in which the leaves are mountedon' leaf-supporting posts adapted to be freed at either set of ends for the insertion or removal ofleaves.

i One of the objects-f our invention is to provide novel means for releasably engag ing and holding the ends of the 1eaf supporting posts.

A further object of our invention-is to provide novel means for releasably locking the post-engaging means in the holding pos1- tion, in a manner such thatunauthorized removal or insertion of'sheets orleaves may be prevented.

A further object of our invention is to provide a locking means of the kind described which is novel, simple, cheapto' make, durable, not liable to get out of order, which is'strong, andwhich is efficient in o )GlltlOll.

The novel features of our invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

'7 In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of our invention, 7 Fig. l is a plan view, partly broken away, of a loose leaf book provided with our improvement. V Y

Fig. 2 is anenlarged section, partly broken away, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.3 'is an enlarged longitudinal section,

partly broken away, of one of the housings and parts mounted therem;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 3, showing the post-holding member released from the latch and projecting from the housing.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are respectively perspective views of portions of one of the housings, the meta-lv back. one of the p ntles and one ofthe hinge members. I

Fig. 10 is a perspective viewof the latches, a set of which is in each housing. 7

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the-key used to unlock the latches and a hook for withdrawing the post-holding members from engagement withthe leaf-supporting posts.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the diiierentviewsf 1 designates a metal channel back of the book having at its longitudinal edges barrels 2, in which are respectivelymounted two pint-les 3 which are also mounted in barrels 4' provided at the inner edges respectively of two hinge plates 5 to which are respect-ively fastened the cover members 6 of-the book. i

, Tdesignateseach of two parallel'housings disposed longitudinally at the inner side of the back 1 and-provided each at its inner side with barrels '8 mounted on the adjacent pintle 3 between adjacent barrels 2.

Each housing may comprise a metal tube, preferably rectangular in cross section, and in each housing 7 is longitudinally slidably mounted a post-holding,member 9, Figs. 3 and 4, provided with prongs 10 adapted to enter respectiveholes in-the adjacent ends of transverse 'leaf supporting posts 11, said housings 7 each having notches 12"for'respec'tively receiving said posts 11.

- Eaclrhousing 7 has in one :end an abutment comprising ablock 13 fastened inthe housing, which when the adj acent post-holding member 9"is outwardly drawn to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. h'will engage a shoulder on saidniember 9 and designated by 14,-to limit the outward moveinentof said member 9. In the last named position'ofthe member 9, theposts 11 will be released therefrom. I

For releasably locking the post-holding members 9 in the post-holding positions,each

housing 7 is provided in the end distant from the abutment 13 with a fulcrum member 15, which closes the adjacent end of'the housing and which is permanently and rigidly fastened in the housing in any suitable manner, as by a rivet 16. One side of the fulcrum member 15 is provided with a notch 15 in which are pivoted one set of ends of latches 1.7 disposed side by side, Fig; 1.0, the free ends of the latches each having a hook 18 adapted to enter a notch '19 inrthe adjacent side of the adjacent post-"holding member'9, to hold' the latter in the post-holding position shown in Fig; 3.

For normally forcing the latches into the notch 19, there is provided a flat spring 20, one end of which is mounted firmly in a slot provided therefor in the side of the fulcrum member 15. The spring 20 holds the latches 17 in their seat in the notch 15, and also normally forces the latches to the position in which they will enter the notch 19 in the member 9, when the latter is forced inwardly to the locking position shown in Fig. 3. The

adjacentside of the member 9 at the adjacent end is beveled so as to enable it to push the latches 17 from the locking position,

when the member 9 is being forced to the looking position, the contacting portions of said latches 17 being correspondingly beveled.

WVhen the post-holding members 9 are in the locking positions, they will be wholly within the housings 7 respectively, so that they are not accessible for withdrawing to the post-releasing position, without first being released from the latches; 17 by a proper key, 21, Fig. 11.

Each housing 7 is provided in its outer side with a key hole 22, and in its inner side opposite to the key hole ahole 23, Fig. 5, the keyhole being shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

When the key 21 is inserted in the key hole 22 and hole 23, and turned in the proper direction, it will first engage the latches 17 and force them to a position, shown in Fig. 4 in which they will be out of the notch 19, thus releasing the post-holding member 9. Continued turning of the key 21 will cause it to engage the upper end of the member 9 and force the latter longitudinally to a position in which-it will project from the housing 7 as shown insolid lines in Fig. 4:, in which position it will be out of the locking position, so that, if released from the key, it can not be engaged by the latches. By then grasping it and withdrawing it to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, Z. the posts 11 will be released at thatset of ends from the prongs 10, so that the posts may be swung on the other set of prongs of the other member 9 out ofthe adjacent housing 7 for the insertion or removal of leaves.

To make it easy to withdraw the members 9 from the position shown in solid lines to. the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, each member 9 has through it a hole 24 adapted to receive therein the bent end of a hook member 25, Fig. 11, with which the member 9 can easily be pulled outwardly in the housing. 7 f To restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 3, the posts 11 are inserted into the notches 12 and the member 9 is forced inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the key 21 having been withdrawn. The member 9 will engage the latches 17 and the prongs 10 will engage the posts 11. p

More than one latch 17 is provided in each housing 7 in order to make it more difficult to pick the lock or release the latches from the member 9 without the proper key.

As shown in Fig. 8, the spring. 20 has a bearing on the heels of the latches 17, so as 74) to hold one or more of them engaged with the member 9, and, unless the latches are all forced from such engagement, friction will hold those unreleased in the locked position, i so that the release of less than all the latches T will not release the others. To pick the lock, itis more diflicult to release all the latches without a proper key than it would be to release but one latch.

If it is desired to permanently hold the members 9 in the locked position, after the placing of leaves into or removing them from the book is completed for all time, a piece of lead, not shown, maybe forced into the key holes 22, so as to thereafter prevent the insertion of a key therein.

Vi e do not limit our invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

lVhat we claim is 2- 1. In a loose leaf book, a housing, a postholding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it adapted to engage and hold a leaf-supporting post, a latch in said'housing adapted to engage and lock the postholding member in the post-holding position and adapted to be released therefrom by a key, said post-holding member being at apted to be engaged by said key and moved longitudinally from the locking position, and means for normally forcing said latch to the locking position. v

2. In loose leaf book, a housing, a postholding m .nber movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted to engage and hold a leaf-sup porting post, a plurality of latches in said housing adapted to engage and lock the post-holding member in the post-holding position and adapted each to be released therefrom by a key, said post-holding mem ber being adapted to be engaged by said 1 55 key and moved longitudinally from the locking position, and means for. normally forcing said latches to the locking position.-

3. In a loose leaf book, a housing having a key hole, a post-holding member movable in longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted toengage and hold aleaf-supporting post, a latch in said housing adapted to engage and lock said post-holding member in the posthold- 13.3 ing position, means for normally forcing said latch to the locking position, and a key insertible through said key hole and adapted, when turned to first engage and move said latch from the locking position and on continued turning to engage said post-holding member and move it longitudinally from the locking position.

- 4:. In a loose leaf book, a housing having a key hole, a post-holding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted to engage and .hold aleaf-supporting post, latches in said housing adapted to engage and lock said post-holding member in the post-holding position, means for normally forcing said latches to the locking position, and a key insertible through said key hole and adapted when turned to first engage said latches and move them from the locking position and on continued turning to engage said post-holding member and move it longitudinally from the locking position.

' 5. In a loose leaf book, a housing, a postholding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted to engage and hold a leaf-supporting post, and means adapted to be released by a key, for engaging andlocking said post-holding member in the-post-engaging position, said post-holding member when in the locked position being wholly within the housing and adapted to be en gaged by said key and moved longitudinally to a position in which it will project from said housing.

6. In a loose leaf book, a housing having a key hole, a post-holding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted to engage and hold a leaf-supporting post, means for look ing said member in the post holding-position, said member, when in the locked position being wholly within said housing, and a key insertible through said key hole and adapted to engage said locking means and free the post-holding member therefrom and to engage and force said member longitudinally to a position in which it will project from said housing. l

7. In a loose leaf book, a housing, a postholding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted to engage and hold a leaf-supporting post, a latch in said housing adapted to engage and lock said member in the post-holding position, said member, when in the locked position being wholly within said housing, means for normally forcing saidlatch to the locking position, and a key adapted for insertion in said housing and adapted when moved to engage and free said latch from said post-holding member and to engage and force said member longitudinally to a position in which said member will project from said housing.

adapted: to engage and hold a leaf-Support ing post, a ,latchin said housing pivotally. engaging said fulcrum member and adapted to engage and lock said post holding member in the post-holding position, resilient means normally forcing said latch to the locking position, and a key insertible in said housing and adaptedwhen inserted and moved properly to engage and move the latch from the locking position and to engage and mally engaging and holding said latch in the locking position, and a key insertible in said housing and adapted when properly moved to engage said latch and said postholding member and move said latch from the locking position and to move said postholding member longitudinally.

10. In a loose leaf book, a housing having therein a fulcrum member, a post-holding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it is adapted toengage and hold a leaf-engaging post, a latch pivotally engaging said fulcrum member and adapted to engage and lock said post-holding member in the postholding position, and in the locking position being Wholly within'said housing, a spring supported by said fulcrum member and engaging and normally forcing said latch to the locking position, and a key insertible in said housing and adapted when properly moved therein to engage said latch and move the latter free from said post-holding member and adapted to engage and force said post-holding member longitudinally from the locked'position to a position in which the post-holding member will project from said housin 11. In a loose leaf book, a housing having therein an abutment and a'fulcrum member, a post-holding member movable longitudinally in said housing to and from a position in which it will be adaptedto'engage and hold a leaf-supporting post, said abutment engaging and limiting the movement of said post-holding member from said holding position, a locking member in said hous-- ing pivotally engaging said fulcrum memher and adapted to engage and lock said post-holding member in the post-holding position, a spring mounted on said fulcrum member and engaging and normally forcing said locking member to the locking position,

said post-holding member in the locked position being Wholly Within said housing, and a key insertible in said housing and adapted when properly moved therein to engage said locking member and move it from locked engagement with said post-holding member and adapted to engage and move said postholding member longitudinally from the locking position and to a position in which the post-holding member W111 pro ect from 10 said housing. 7 i

in testimony whereof We have slgned our names to this specification.

CHARLES L. ENGEL. WALTER s. ENGEL. 

